Build your first Analysis Services

(Tabular Model) <not a Cube>!

(using the tutorials on docs.microsoft.com)

[email protected]
Why Analysis Services?

Problem statements:
“We don’t have per-user security on database x, y, or z”
“We want to secure our data”
“We want the business users to see THEIR data”
“ETL is hard/slow”
“We need real time and historical data”
Analysis Services Overview
Analysis Services (SSAS) is an online analytical data engine used
in decision support and business analytics
It provides analytical data for business reports and client
applications such as Reporting Services reports, Power BI, Excel,
and other third-party data visualization tools
SSAS supports two modelling modes—multidimensional and
tabular
Analysis Services Overview
One Semantic Model - Two Ways to Develop

Tabular models Multidimensional models

Tables and relationships Dimensions and measure groups

Fast by design with in-memory Highly scalable and mature
Easy to get started and simple Feature rich and complex
Analysis Services Architectural Overview
CLIENT TOOLS

BI SEMANTIC MODEL
Queries Use SQL Server
Data Tools for
Data model Visual Studio to
Business logic create BI
semantic models
Data access

DATA SOURCES
Modeling types
Type Modeling description Released
Tabular Relational modeling constructs SQL Server 2012 and later
(model, tables, columns). Internally, metadata is
inherited from OLAP modeling constructs (cubes, (compatibility levels 1050 -
1
dimensions, measures). Code and script use OLAP 1103)
metadata.

Tabular in SQL Server 2016 Relational modeling constructs SQL Server 2016 (compatibility
(model, tables, columns), articulated in tabular
metadata object definitions in Tabular Model Scripting level 1200)
Language (TMSL) and Tabular Object Model
(TOM) code.

Tabular in SQL Server 2017 Relational modeling constructs SQL Server 2017 (compatibility
(model, tables, columns), articulated in tabular
metadata object definitions in Tabular Model Scripting level 1400)
Language (TMSL) and Tabular Object Model
(TOM) code.

Multidimensional OLAP modeling constructs SQL Server 2000 and later

(cubes, dimensions, measures).

Power Pivot Originally an add-in, but now via Excel and Power Pivot or
fully integrated into Excel. Power BI Desktop
Visual modeling only, over an internal Tabular
infrastructure.
 Tabular models in SQL Server 2016 - Overview

DimOrganization
New rich modeling capabilities
OrganizationKey
ParnentOrganization
PercentageOfOwn…
OrganizationName
CurrencyKey
DimDepartmentGr…
DimDepartmentGroupKey…
ParentDepartmentGr…
DepartmentGroupNa… Improved DirectQuery
FactFinance
FinanceKey
DateKey
OrganizationKey
DepartmentGroup…
ScenarioKey
DimAccount

Performance enhancements
AccountKey
ParenAccountKey
AccountCodeAlter…
ParenAccountCod…
AccountDescription
DimAccount
ScenarioKey
ScenarioName

Development

Scale and manage

How do we get started with SSAS?
Take a look at the
Analysis Services Tabular adventure works tutorial:
http://tinyurl.com/SSASTAB
(https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/analysis-services/tabular-
modeling-adventure-works-tutorial)
“This tutorial provides lessons on how to create an Analysis Services tabular
model at the 1200 compatibility level by using SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT),
and deploy your model to an Analysis Services server on-premises or in Azure.”
Nomenclature in the Tabular Analysis Services world
Tables and Columns – Data imported or queried from data sources

Hierarchy - metadata that define relationships between two or more columns in a table.

Calculations – using DAX, aggregate, filter, extend, combine, and secure that data.

Measure - a calculation created using a DAX formula for use in a reporting client. Measures are
evaluated based on fields, filters, and slicers users select in the reporting client application.

KPI - used to gauge performance of a value, defined by a Base measure, against a Target value, also
defined by a measure or by an absolute value.

Perspective - Perspectives, in tabular models, define viewable subsets of a model that provide focused,
business-specific, or application-specific viewpoints of the model.

Partition - Partitions divide a table into logical parts. Each partition can then be processed (Refreshed)
independent of other partitions.
So, what are we learning?
a. How to create a new tabular model project in SSDT (SQL Server Developer Tools)
b. How to import data from a SQL Server relational database into an Analysis
Services tabular model project.
c. How to create and manage relationships between tables in the model.
d. How to create and manage calculations, measures, and Key Performance
Indicators that help users analyze model data.
e. (Homework) Create and manage perspectives and hierarchies that help users more
easily browse model data by providing business and application specific viewpoints.
f. (Homework) Create partitions that divide table data into smaller logical parts that
can be processed independent from other partitions.
g. (Homework) How to secure model objects and data using roles with user members.
h. How to deploy a tabular model to an Analysis Services server on-premises or in
Azure.
You will need the following prerequisites:
The latest version of SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT). Get the latest version.

or… VS2017 with the Analysis Services add-in also works

The latest version of SQL Server Management Studio. Get the latest version.

A client application such as Power BI Desktop or Microsoft Excel.

A SQL Server instance with the Adventure Works DW 2014 sample database. This sample
database includes the data necessary to complete this tutorial. Get the latest version.

An Azure Analysis Services or SQL Server 2016 or later Analysis Services instance to
deploy your model to. Sign up for a free Azure Analysis Services trial.
DEMO
Demo of Analysis Services Tabular Model creation and deployment

Create

Pull in data

Report on data
Resources
Tutorial on Analysis Services
http://tinyurl.com/SSASTAB
MSDN: SQL Server Analysis Services
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb522607.aspx
Analysis Services and PowerPivot Team Blog
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/analysisservices/
YouTube video of Azure Analysis Services
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44I48ufKhOs
EDx course on Analysis Services: 8 hours of content and hands-on labs
https://www.edx.org/course/sql-server-analysis-services-developing-microsoft-dat225x-0#!
Appendix A:
Enterprise-grade
Analysis Services
Analysis Services themes for SQL Server 2016
Improved productivity and performance

Increased
productivity

Scale and manage

Analysis Services Overview
Analysis Services (SSAS) is an online analytical data engine used in decision support and
business analytics

It provides analytical data for business reports and client applications such as Reporting
Services reports, Power BI, Excel, and other third-party data visualization tools

SSAS supports two modelling modes—multidimensional and tabular

The multidimensional mode also includes a data mining engine
Analysis Services Overview
One Semantic Model - Two Ways to Develop

Tabular models Multidimensional models

Tables and relationships Dimensions and measure groups

Fast by design with in-memory Highly scalable and mature
Easy to get started and simple Feature rich and complex
Analysis Services Architectural Overview
CLIENT TOOLS

BI SEMANTIC MODEL

Queries Use SQL Server

Data Tools for
Data model
Visual Studio to
Business logic create BI semantic
models
Data access

DATA SOURCES
 Multidimensional in SQL Server 2016 - Overview
Improvements in manageability, functionality,
and performance

Scale and manage

 Tabular models in SQL Server 2016 - Overview

DimOrganization
New rich modeling capabilities
OrganizationKey
ParnentOrganization
PercentageOfOwn…
OrganizationName
CurrencyKey
DimDepartmentGr…
DimDepartmentGroupKey…
ParentDepartmentGr…
DepartmentGroupNa… Improved DirectQuery
FactFinance
FinanceKey
DateKey
OrganizationKey
DepartmentGroup…
ScenarioKey
DimAccount

Performance enhancements
AccountKey
ParenAccountKey
AccountCodeAlter…
ParenAccountCod…
AccountDescription
DimAccount
ScenarioKey
ScenarioName

Development

Scale and manage

New SSAS Features (Tabular and Multidimensional)
Analysis Services Management Objects (AMO) updates
AMO has been refactored to include a second assembly Microsoft.AnalysisServices.Core

This assembly includes common classes across SSAS modes: e.g. server, database, role

No breaking changes, but new application references should use Microsoft.AnalysisServices.Core

DBCC for Analysis Services runs internally to detect potential data corruption issues on
database load
Can be run on demand if an administrator suspects problems with the data or model

DBCC runs different checks depending on whether the model is tabular or multidimensional
New SSAS Features (Tabular and Multidimensional)
Extended Events (xEvents) can now be managed and monitored within SSMS
Live data streams can be monitored in real time, keeping session data loaded in memory for faster
analysis

Data streams can also be saved to a file for offline analysis

In SSMS, it is now possible to add computer accounts as database Administrators

Custom authentication in SQL Server 2016
New security feature for tabular and MOLAP

EUN=Effectiveusername

Admin

ActAs=AnyString

Admin SQL Server

Analysis Services
CustomData

Scale and manage

New SSAS Features - Tabular
While most new tabular features are available only with SSAS 2016 models (compatibility
level 1200), all tabular models can benefit from:
Parallel processing of multiple table partitions

Support for Visual Studio Configuration manager

Improved DAX formula editing (multi-line, tabs, comments)

Formula fixup (renaming objects will automatically update formula references)

Saving incomplete measures (all measures must be complete to deploy the project)

New behaviors with DAX variables

New DAX functions (~59)

New SSAS Features – More than 50 new DAX Functions
Examples:
Date and Time
CALENDAR
CALENDARAUTO
DATEDIFF

Math and Trig

SIN, COS, TAN, etc.
EVEN, ODD, EXP, ISO.CEILING, MROUND

Statistical
MEDIAN, MEDIANX, PERCENTILE.EXC, PERCENITLEX.EXC
New SSAS Features – Model Development
New 1200 model development features:
Calculated tables

Bi-directional cross filters

Display folders, to organize model elements into logical groups

Translations, to view models in a preferred language

DirectQuery enhancements

Improved SSDT modeling performance, thanks to TMSL (introduced later)

New SSAS Features – Calculated Tables
Define calculated tables to add new tables to the model, based on existing data from
other tables
Defined by using DAX

Calculated tables are generally best for intermediate calculations of data stored in the model, rather
than calculated on the fly

Calculated tables appear in Relationship view, and relationships can be defined with other tables

Calculated tables are recalculated in the same circumstances as calculated columns

New SSAS Features – Bi-Directional Cross Filters
Bi-directional cross filtering allows developers to define how filter context propagates
between related tables
Bi-directional filters on both sides of a bridging table will solve the “many-to-many” problem—without
the need to write DAX formulas
New SSAS Features – DirectQuery in Tabular
DirectQuery enhancements:
Direct access without moving data
New data sources:

Microsoft Analytics Platform System (APS)

Oracle
DAX Query
Teradata

Support for common analytical tools with MDX

queries MDX Query

Improved query generation, resulting in faster

performance
New SSAS Features – DirectQuery in Tabular
DirectQuery enhancements [Continued]:
Row-level security, defined by model roles with DAX filters

Calculated columns (but not calculated tables), but note:

In certain known cases, the same formula can return different results from a cached model compared
to a DirectQuery model

These differences are a consequence of the semantic differences between the in-memory analytics
engine and the underlying data source, queried with SQL

Sample partitions, enabling in-memory data to be cached to facilitate model development

New SSAS Features – DirectQuery in Tabular
DirectQuery benefits:
Data is guaranteed to be up-to-date, with no extra management overhead of having to maintain a
separate copy of the data

Data sets can be larger than the memory capacity of the SSAS server

DirectQuery can take advantage of provider-side query acceleration, such as that provided by xVelocity
memory optimized column indexes

Security can be enforced by the back-end database, by using row-level security features from the back-
end database—or alternatively, by using row-level security in the model

SSAS performs optimizations to ensure that the query plan for the query executed against the back-
end database will be as efficient as possible
New SSAS Features – Tabular Object Model (TOM)
The Tabular Object Model (TOM) is part of
AMO
Database
With TOM, developers can now use familiar tabular
concepts, rather than multidimensional concepts
Model
This promotes simpler, and more readable, code when
developing against tabular models
Table(s)

Column(s)

Measure(s)
New SSAS Features – Tabular Object Model (TOM)
Tabular Object Model Example:
public void ReprocessTable(string cnnString, string dbName, string tableName)
{
var server = new Server();
server.Connect(cnnString);

// Connect to the server

Database db = server.Databases[dbName];

// Connect to the database

Model = db.Model;

// Reprocess the table

model.Tables[tableName].RequestRefresh(RefreshType.Full);
model.SaveChanges(); // Commit the changes
}
New SSAS Features – Tabular Model Scripting Language
(TMSL)
The Tabular Model Scripting Language (TMSL) allows for simplified scripting and
development for tabular models
This new language describes and manages objects with JSON

SSMS database commands can produce TMSL scripts, including:

Create, Alter, Delete, Backup, Restore, Attach, and Detach

Changes to the model now only affect a single object instead of having to map everything to
multidimensional objects—this makes metadata operations very fast

As metadata changes are now localized in the script, it allows for simple code merges
New SSAS Features – Tabular Model Scripting Language
The script to represent the schema of the model was developed together with the Power BI team, with
the goal to have feature parity with the Power BI APIs to allow reusability between products

SSAS PowerShell cmdlet Invoke-ASCmd accepts tabular model scripting language commands

{ {
"refresh": { "backup": {
"type": "full", "database": "Sales Analysis",
"objects": [ "file": "SalesAnalysis.abf",
{ "password": "Pass@word1",
"database": "Sales Analysis", "allowOverwrite": false,
"table": "Reseller Sales" "applyCompression": true
} }
] }
}
}
New SSAS Features – Multidimensional Improvements
Distinct count ROLAP optimizations for DB2 and Oracle data sources

Drill-through multi-selection support with Excel 2016

Excel query optimizations

Excel PivotTables are now optimized when totals and subtotals are turned off

In this case, better optimized MDX queries are generating, delivering performance benefits for both
MOLAP and tabular models
Deprecated SSAS Features
Not supported in the next major release of SQL Server:
Remote partitions
Remote linked measure groups
Dimensional writeback
Linked dimensions

Not supported in future releases of SQL Server:

SQL Server table notifications for proactive caching (use polling instead)
Session and local cubes (no replacement)
Tabular model 1100 and 1103 compatibility levels (use 1200)
SQL Server Profiler for trace capture (use xEvents) and replay (no replacement)
Discontinued SSAS Features
CalculationPassValue() MDX function (deprecated SSAS 2005)

CalculationCurrentPass() MDX function (deprecated SSAS 2005)

NON_EMPTY_BEHAVIOR query optimizer hint (deprecated SSAS 2008)

COM assemblies (deprecated SSAS 2008)

CELL_EVALUATION_LIST intrinsic cell property (deprecated SSAS 2005)

Upgrading to SSAS 2016
Upgrading to SSAS 2016 can be achieved by:
Server instance upgrade

Database upgrade

After upgrading, it is recommended to run the new DBCC for Analysis Services
Upgrading to SSAS 2016 – Server Instance Upgrade
A SSAS instance upgrade can achieved by:
In-place upgrade
Side-by-side upgrade

Supported for SQL Server 2008, or later

An instance upgrade cannot change the server mode

The compatibility levels of databases that are attached to a given instance remain the
same, unless manually changed

Metadata and binary data is compatible between the two versions, and so there is no
need to re-process databases
Upgrading to SSAS 2016 – Database Upgrade
Prior SSAS database versions can be hosted on SSAS 2016

The following compatibility levels can been deployed to SSAS 2016:

Mode Level Version

Multidimensional 1050 SQL Server 2005, 2008, 2008 R2
Multidimensional 1100 SQL Server 2012, or later
Tabular 1100 SQL Server 2012
Tabular 1103 SQL Server 2014
Tabular 1200 SQL Server 2016
Upgrading to SSAS 2016 – Database Upgrade
To upgrade a non-DirectQuery database, upgrade the SSDT project, and then deploy to
the upgraded server

DirectQuery databases cannot be upgraded in-place

To upgrade DirectQuery databases:

In SSDT, turn off DirectQuery mode

Set the compatibility level to 1200

Turn DirectQuery mode back on

Deploy to the upgraded server

Upgrading to SSAS 2016 – Database Upgrade
Tabular databases benefit the most from an upgrade to SSAS 2016:
Take advantage of new developer features

The revised DirectQuery mode at compatibility 1200 delivers better performance, calculated columns,
and row-level security enforced by SSAS roles

Tabular model metadata uses native terminology for object definitions, and TMSL is used to script
database operations
Supported SSAS Features by Edition
SSAS 2016 is supported by Enterprise, Standard and Developer editions

Maximum compute capacity per instance:

Enterprise and Developer: Operating system maximum

Standard: Limited to lesser of 4 sockets or 24 cores

Maximum memory per instance:

Enterprise and Developer: Operating system maximum

Standard: Tabular: 16GB, and Multidimensional: 64GB

Standard edition limits AlwaysOn failover clusters to two nodes

Supported SSAS Features by Edition
Features supported only by Enterprise edition:
Scalable shared databases

Synchronize databases

Power Pivot for SharePoint

Only standard data mining algorithms and tools are supported in Standard edition

BI Semantic Model features are limited by edition

Supported SSAS Features by Edition
Standard edition does not support:
Perspectives

Multiple partitions

DirectQuery storage modes

Supported SSAS Features by Edition
Standard edition does not support:
Semi-additive measures (except LastChild)
Perspectives
Writeback dimensions *
Linked measures and dimensions *
Unlimited partitions (supports up to three)
Proactive caching
Push-mode processing
Direct writeback
Measure expressions

* Deprecated features
Summary
Seventh release of Analysis Services

Numerous new features and enhancements deliver improved development and

management capabilities

Upgrade to SSAS 2016 is easily accomplished

Upgrading databases to SSAS 2016 is also easily accomplished by setting project compatibility levels,
and redeploying

DirectQuery enhancements deliver many benefits for real time access to SQL Server,
APS, Oracle and Teradata data sources
Resources
MSDN: SQL Server Analysis Services
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb522607.aspx
MSDN: What’s New in Analysis Services
Describes a complete list of new DAX functions
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb522628.aspx
MSDN: Features Supported by the Editions of SQL Server 2016
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc645993.aspx?#SSAS
Analysis Services and PowerPivot Team Blog
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/analysisservices/
Youtube video of Azure Analysis Services
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44I48ufKhOs
EDx course on Analysis Services: 8 hours of content and hands-on labs
https://www.edx.org/course/sql-server-analysis-services-developing-microsoft-dat225x-0#!